The 25-year-old man who was arrested and charged over the murder of law student and former Miss South Pacific Ruby-Anne Laufa today appeared in the Waigani District Court.
Richard Jason Namaliu of Raluana village, Kokopo, East New Britain Province and his lawyer appeared before Magistrate Cosmas Bidar of the Waigani Committal court.
The court explained the committal court process and the charge and allegations against him before adjourning the case for a month.
Namaliu remains on a National Court bail of K2000. He was charged with murder.
He was released from custody on Monday, July 31.
It is alleged he murdered Laufa of Lese, Malalaua, Gulf Province, along the Fort Banner Road, UPNG, on February 11.
According to the police brief, Namaliu drove a CRV registration BER 689 and the late Laufa was a passenger in the vehicle that was seen driven by the defendant along the Fort Banner road.
Magistrate Bidar said the allegation is that he pushed the late Laufa out of a moving vehicle which is said to have caused her death.
These are allegations at this stage and police will continue their investigations to compile its investigation files or what is called a police hand-up brief.
The investigation files will be used by the court to weigh out the evidence against Namaliu if it is sufficient to put his case for trial in the National Court.